Modulation of contextual fear conditioning by chronic stress in rats is related to individual differences in behavioral reactivity to novelty

We investigated whether contextual fear conditioning could be related to the behavioral trait of locomotor reactivity to novelty in undisturbed and chronically stressed rats. Fear conditioning was found to be specifically enhanced in low reactive-stressed animals, as compared to low reactive-undisturbed rats. The results suggest that individuals that display low reactivity to novelty are more susceptible to be influenced by stress exposure to subsequently exhibit potentiated contextual fear conditioning. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.